Is it true that system 7-based software must have been written to take advantage of dual-core G4 architecture available in MDD towers?

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Is it true that system 7-based software must have been written to take advantage of dual-core G4 architecture available in MDD towers?

My employers built a complex data processing system around an application written for system 7. What is the highest-performance OS9-bootable machine? My guess was the dual-core MDD towers, but I seem to remember reading on a forum something about the software needing to have been written to work with a dual-core setup.

My bosses are very reluctant to attempt a crossover to a new setup. We'd need a 'break' in the workflow, but there hasn't been one since the early 90s. I'm also considering attempting to max out the hugest performance machine that'll run classic and see how that works with their software. Input about that would be profusely appreciated as well.

Thanks folks!

PowerMac, Mac OS 9.2.x

Posted on Jul 30, 2012 11:26 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 2, 2012 10:39 AM in response to mahrmut

The short answer to your "dual core" question is "yes".

The longer answer is as follows:

Apple added a dual cpu API about the same time they built a dual CPU machine for the first time. The API had some severe restrictions that precluded the second processor from doing any:

1) User Interface displays

2) File system access

3) Function calls that would cause Interrupts

What that left was math calculations. There were a few applications that were updated to take advantage of the API but only a few. Photoshop was one. Final Cut Pro was another.

Both benefitted from the change.

Gary

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